Awhile back, I asked about experiences repairing windshields. I had mine done. Getting it fixed was quite an experience . . . but that is a long and probably boring story that I will save for another day.
The glass repair company convinced me to try their aftermarket glass. It was significantly cheaper (about 40% less), they had the glass in stock, and I was in a hurry to have it fixed before I took a three hour trip to see my brother. So I said ok.
When I scheduled the repair, they ASKED if I had a rain sensor (which I do). When the repair guy showed up, he took one look at my car and said if he used the after market glass, the rain sensor wouldn't work. They sent a piece with the right shading for it, but the aftermarket didn't come with a ceramic piece that goes bewteen the windshield and the rain sensor.
He said this happens all the time - the order takers have information that accounts for the rain sensor and sell the after market glass, but then they have to replace them b/c it never works afterwards if they try and reuse the old ceramic piece. The installers always inform the customers and ask them what they want to do.
The moral of the story is to either order oem or ask specifically about that ceramic rain sensor piece if you ever need a new windshield. I did not try the aftermarket piece. The OEM piece that showed up two weeks later after several calls without the glass company bothering to schedule the exact day they came out seems to work fine. And they replaced the seals. I stopped watching when he took a razorblade to the inside of the interior to cut the glass free . . .
The glass repair company convinced me to try their aftermarket glass. It was significantly cheaper (about 40% less), they had the glass in stock, and I was in a hurry to have it fixed before I took a three hour trip to see my brother. So I said ok.
When I scheduled the repair, they ASKED if I had a rain sensor (which I do). When the repair guy showed up, he took one look at my car and said if he used the after market glass, the rain sensor wouldn't work. They sent a piece with the right shading for it, but the aftermarket didn't come with a ceramic piece that goes bewteen the windshield and the rain sensor.
He said this happens all the time - the order takers have information that accounts for the rain sensor and sell the after market glass, but then they have to replace them b/c it never works afterwards if they try and reuse the old ceramic piece. The installers always inform the customers and ask them what they want to do.
The moral of the story is to either order oem or ask specifically about that ceramic rain sensor piece if you ever need a new windshield. I did not try the aftermarket piece. The OEM piece that showed up two weeks later after several calls without the glass company bothering to schedule the exact day they came out seems to work fine. And they replaced the seals. I stopped watching when he took a razorblade to the inside of the interior to cut the glass free . . .